The 2957 hectares which make up Connemara National Park are situated in north Connemara and consist of quartz and schist. It begins at the sea and expands to the stunning Twelve Bens Mountains called Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanacht. With fascinating wildlife, the area is covered by bog and vegetation which thrives in wet heath. The heaths and the bogs encourage the vegetation and the mountains are carpeted by heathers, one rare heather is St Dabeoc's Heath Clothe.

The scenery is enhanced by Purple Moor Grass which flourishes in the bogs and enhances the landscape every year. Carnivorous plants are also in evidence. The Butterword and Sundew plants live on passing insects and use their leaves to digest them. There is an abundance of beautiful flora including Bog Cotton and Milkwort, Lousewort, Bog Myrtle, Bog Asphodel and many types of orchid.

The fauna consists of a variety of birds including Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, robins, wrens and stonechats. Birds of prey are also at home here, they include kestrels, sparrow hawks, merlins and peregrine falcons. Red deer were recently brought back to the area and a herd of the rare Connemara ponies has been bred here.

The park was opened in 1980 and provides much cultural entertainment. At the Park Visitor Centre at Lettefrack in County Galway guests can enjoy seeing an exhibition of the West of Ireland bog lands and view an audio-visual greeting to the park. The park has nature trails, walks with a guide and, during the summer months, nature mornings for children. It is a hive of activity with Pony Information sessions and, outside art tuition and lectures.